thomas



2 Shem-sheet '1.

mum} N. M. mm.

METALLIC (mugs TIE. v

Patentad Feb. 7, 1893.

m: uomus P576185 00, magma. wameeo'm 9. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets$heet 2.

N M. THOMAS. METALLIG CROSS TIE.-

Patented Feb. I, 1893.

Fig.4.

Urvi'rnn graves Parents @rrrcn.

NATHAN ill. THOMAS, OF ABERDEEN, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO HARRY B. JAMES, OF SAME PLACE.

METALLlC CROSS-TIE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 491,229, dated February 7, 1893.

Application filed August 13, 1892. Serial No. 443,035, (llo model.)

To all whom it may concern: wedges 10 which have vertical faces engaging Be it known that l, NATHAN M. THOMAS, a the adjacent edges of the clip plates and inciiizcn of the United States, residing at Aberclined faces engaging the inclined faces of deen, in the county of Llarford and State of the transverse web and inner inclined faces 5 5 5 Maryland, have invented a new and useful 11 of the ends of the tie. By forcing the Metallic Gross-Tie, of which the following is wedges downward-the clip plates are brought a s ecification. to ether and are caused to clam the rails r n o v n h lhe invention relates to improvements 1n firmly, and the said wedges are secured in metallic cross-ties. place by horizontally disposed locking bars 60 The object of the present invention is to 12 which are arranged transversely of the improve the construct-ion of metallic cross cross-tie and are located in slots 13 of the ties, to prevent the same slipping longitudisame, and in grooves 14 of the wedges. nally, and to dispense with bolts in securing The ends of the locking bars extend beyond the rails to the cross-ties. the sides of the cross-tie and are provided 55 The invention consists in the construction with perforations in which are arranged keys and novel combination and arrangement of 15 which may be removed to allow the lockparts hereinafter fully described, illustrated ing bars to be withdrawn from either side of in the accompanying drawings and pointed the cross-tie to permit the removal of the out in the claims hereto appended. wedges and the clip plates. The wedges are 20 In the drawings-Figure 1 is a perspective provided near their upper edges at their view of a metallic cross-tie constructed in acouter sides with shouldered notches 16 adaptcordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a loned to be engaged by a suitable tool to enable gitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a transthe wedges to be withdrawn, and the ends of verse sectional view. Fig.4 is a reverse plan the cross-tie, and the transverse web thereof 25 view. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a portion of are provided with recesses 1'7 which permit the cross-tie showing the L-shaped grooves. the notches 16 to he engaged by a tool or in- Fig. i is a detail perspective view of one of strument. By this construction, the rails are the clip plates. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective securely fastened to the cross-tic without the view of one of the notched fish-plates. use of bolts and nuts, and may be readily re- 0 Like numerals of reference indicate corremoved when desired.

spending parts in all the figures of the draw- The cross-tie is provided in its bottom with logo. drain openings 18 and is also provided with l designates ahollow metallic cross-tie com- \J-shaped ribs 19 which are arranged on the prising sides :2, ends 3 and a bottom at and lower face of the body and disposed at oppo 3 5 strengthened bya transverse web 5 arranged site sides thereof to prevent the cross-tic at the middle of the tie and connecting the slipping longitudinally. The adjacent sides sides thereof and provided withinclined faces. of the Vshaped ribs 19 are arranged parallel The transverse web divides the tie in halves with each other, and they enable earth or the and adjacent to the end of each half the inner like to be forced under the cross-tie from 0 o faces of the side walls are provided with l...- either side to form a firm bed shaped grooves 6 having vertical mouths and In securing rails near the ends to effect a horizontal branches, and adapted for the rerail joint, the fish plates 20 are provided near ception of lugs 7 of clip plates 8 which are their ends with notches 21 which are enprovided with clips 9 adapted to receive the gaged by projections 22 of the adjacent clips 9 5 5 flanges of a rail 9, whereby the latter is seto prevent the fish plates slipping longitudicured to the cross-tic. 'lhelugs 7 are inserted nally. By this arrangement the meeting ends in the months of the Lshaped grooves and of rails may he brought between two crossthe clip plates are moved horizontally toward ties instead of over one, thereby effecting the V each other to receive and engage the bottom necessary spring joint. 1 5o flanges of the rail 9, and they are fastened It will be seen that the cross-tie is simple in such engagement by vertically disposed and comparatively inexpensive in construction, that the rails may be readily secured to the cross-tie and removed therefrom, and that bolts and nuts are not employed eitherin the construction of the cross-tie or in the means for securing the rails to the cross-tie.

The sliding clip-plates, which arearranged in the ways of the cross-tie, with the wedges, close the top of the cross-tie, but any moisture that may enter the cross-tie will drain out through the openings 18 which are arranged at the ends of the cross-tie.

What I claim is- 1. The combination of a hollow metallic cross-tie comprising end and side walls and provided at opposite sides with ways, a rail, the clip plates arranged in the Ways and forming a top for the cross-tie and provided with clips receiving and engaging the bottom flanges of the rail, and the wedges arranged at the outer edges of the clip plates and forcing the latter into engagement with the rail, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a cross-tie having the inner faces of its ends inclined and provided at its center with a transverse web having inclined faces, the sides of said cross-tie being provided on their inner faces with ways, rails, clip plates arranged in said Ways and provided with clips receiving the bottom flanges of the rails, and wedges arranged at the outer edges of the clip plates and having inclined faces engaging the inclined faces of the cross-tie, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination of a cross-tie having the inner faces of its ends inclined and provided in its sides with ways and having a transverse web provided with inclined faces, clip plates arranged in said ways and provided with clips, the wedges arranged at the outer edges of the clip plates and provided with horizontal grooves, and the locking bars arranged transversely of the cross-tie and engaging the grooves of the wedges, substantially as described.

4. A cross-tie provided in its sides with L- shaped grooves and having slots, the clip plates provided with clips and having lugs ar ranged in said grooves, the wedges arranged at the outer ends of the clip plates and provided -with grooves, the transverse locking bars arranged in said slots and engaging the grooves of the wedges, and fastening devices arranged at the ends of the locking bar and securing the same to the cross-tie, substantially as described.

5. A cross-tie provided on its lower face with V-shaped ribs arranged at opposite sides of the cross-tie to prevent longitudinal movement of the same, and separated from one another by intervening spaces, and having their opposite sides parallel with each other, substantially as described.

6. The combination of the cross-tie provided at its sides with ways, the clip plates arranged in the ways and provided with clips and having projections in the same,a rail, fish plates arranged on opposite sides of the rail and provided with notches engaged by said projections, and wedges arranged at the outer ends of the clip plates, substantially as described.

7. The combination of a hollow cross-tie comprising end and side walls and provided with ways, the clip plates arranged in the ways and forming a top for the cross tie and provided at their inner ends with clips to receive the bottom flanges ot' a rail, wedges arranged at the outer ends of the clip-plates and locking bars passed transversely through the cross-tie and engaging the wedges, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own Ihave hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

NATHAN M. THOMAS. Vitnesses:

11. F. RILEY, BERNICE A. W001). 

